Charles r



.(Specimens.)

G. R. LAMB.

MOSAIG TILE.

No. 595,485.- Patented Dec. 14,1897.

. WITNESSES: v 5% 46 IOZV VE/VTOR a 2 i J WWW UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES R. LAMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOSAIC TILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,485, dated December14, 1897.

Application filed August 6, 1896. Serial No; BOLS L'Y. (Specimens) Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. LAMB, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have made certainnew and useful Improvements in Mosaic Tiles, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description,reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a durable tileof comparativelylow cost adapted for mosaic work, which when laid in place will presentthe appearance of highly polished metal mosaics.

It also consists in the employment of different-colored transparentsubstances for the wearing-surface of the tile, so that the tile will bereversible, one side presenting a different color from the other.

It also, consists in forming the said tile of such substances and insuch manner that it may be readily and quickly subdivided and used inany desired shape or size.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofmy improved tile ready for use. Fig. 2 is a View showing how the tile isformed in large sections for subdivision as above.

Similar reference-characters are employed to designate like parts inboth views.

The tile consists of two plates 1 and 2, preferably of transparent glassof different colors, and an interposed layer of metallic foil 3, thecontiguous surfaces of the three layers being firmly united throughouttheir area, so that the/finished tile may be subdivided into any desirednumber of parts of any desired shape by means of an ordinary glaziersdiamond without in any way impairing the cohesion of the plates.

Any suitable metallic foil may be utilized in the production of myimproved tile, but I will for the sake of brevity confine my descriptionof the preferred process of its manufacture to a tile made withgold-foil. A thin sheet of the foil 3, such as is used generally in thearts, is placed smoothly between the two plates 1 and 2, one of which atleast m ust be of transparent glass. The superposed layers are thenplaced in a kiln or retort and subjected to a temperature of from 1,500to 2,500 Fahrenheit. The exact degree of heat required will varyconsiderably with the pnrity of the foil and the quality of glassemployed, and for foils other than gold will also be governed by thecharacter of the metal, as will be readily understood by those skilledin the art. hours (more or less) the fires are drawn gradually, so thatthe kilns will cool slowly, and the tiles are permitted to remain in thekilns until they are thoroughly cooled. No flux or cement of any kind isnecessarily employed in securing the parts together, and when removedfrom the kiln the two sheets of glass will be found to be so perfectlyunited that they are practically inseparable and the joint will behardly distinguishable. As stated, the tiles may then be subdivided intoany desired shape or size and on any desired lines by the use of anordinary glaziers diamond.

W'hen the tiles are laidin place, the upper plate serves as a durablewearing-surface and the under one as a backing which completely protectsthe foil from deterioration and fur nishes a firm foundation for thetile. If the upper plate be of colorless glass, the foil will ap pearbeneath it in its natural color-,the finished work presenting theappearance of highlypolished metal mosaics. By using glass of difierentcolors for the two layers the apparent color of the foil may be changedby simply reversing the tile, and in this manner or by the use ofdifferent-colored foils or different-colored glass any mosaic pattern ordesign may be produced and unique and artistic effects obtained.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture a tile consisting of a backing, atransparent glass plate and an interposed layer of metallic foil firmlyunited into one composite structure by the action of heat, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. As a new article of manufacture a tile consisting of two glass platesof different colors and an interposed layer of metallic foil havingtheir contiguous surfaces united throughout by the action of heat,substantially as shown and described.

CHAS. R. LAMB. WVitnesses:

ARTHUR F. THOMPSON, HORACE C. SKELLY.

At the expiration of twenty-four ICO

